It's Friday! Here are this week's big stories and some that you might have missed
Warning: This story contains details that may be distressing for some
The big headlines
- The US has resumed strikes on Iran, with the peace agreement between the two countries dismantled because of the ongoing violence. Its naval blockade has also taken effect, preventing maritime traffic to and from Iranian ports, while mediators attempt to reactivate the ceasefire agreed to last month. President Trump insists that the Strait of Hormuz be opened, as its closure has resulted in a more than 10 per cent spike in oil prices.
- Spain and Argentina have officially made the final of the FIFA World Cup. Spain beat the pre-tournament favourites France 2-0 on Wednesday, as they make their way to their first World Cup final since their win in 2010. Yesterday, the defending champions came back in the final moments to deliver a 2-1 victory over England. The final match will take place on July 20, at 5am AEST.
- New Zealand actor Sam Neill, known for his roles in Jurassic Park and My Brilliant Career, died aged 78 on Monday. A statement posted to Instagram called the loss "sudden and unexpected", although his agent has since confirmed that pneumonia as his cause of death. He’s being remembered as a legend of the New Zealand and Australian film and television industry.
What else happened this week?
New racism standards for Australian universities
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has been hearing testimonies of university students and staff’s experiences of racism on campus / Pexels
Australian universities will be required to define antisemitism, racism against Indigenous peoples and Islamophobia, as well as adopt processes for complaints of racism, under new federal government standards. Public universities will be required to comply with the standards from January.
Four Australian women killed in four days
Counting Dead Women Australia reports that 27 women have been killed so far in 2026 / Pexels
Domestic violence is in the spotlight again this week, as four Australian women have allegedly been murdered by men known to them in the last week. Their families and experts are calling for more research and funding for domestic violence prevention.
Andy Burnham to become British PM
No other Labour candidate was able to reach the 81 nominations necessary to enter the leadership contest / Wikimedia Commons
Andy Burnham has secured the UK Labour leadership after gaining the support of 349 Labour MPs without challenge. He will become the British Prime Minister on Monday.
Bangkok bar fire leaves 30 dead
First responders found many of the victims trapped in windowless bathrooms near an allegedly blocked exit / Pexels
The death toll of a deadly blaze in Thailand on Sunday has reached 33, while dozens have been left in critical conditions in hospitals across the city. An investigation into alleged negligence will take place, as an initial assessment revealed an electrical short circuit in an air conditioner.
Digital customs declarations for travellers
The move comes after a successful trial on Qantas flights into Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne / Pexels
Travellers arriving in Australia will no longer be required to complete paper arrival cards, as the government will be phasing in digital declarations over the next 18 months. Prime Minister Albanese pledged to spend more than $56m to modernise airport systems across the coming four years.
Perth man dies in Bali detention centre
Hughes, 39, was being held for an alleged breach of his visa conditions after separating from his Indonesian wife / Pexels
Perth man Cameron Hughes died in an immigration detention centre in Bali on the weekend while awaiting deportation. He was found unresponsive, while the cause of death was labelled cardiac arrest. His family claims they have received conflicting information from authorities.
Men report most ‘sextortion’, report reveals
Sextortion happens when someone threatens to share a nude or sexual image or video of another person as a form of blackmail / Pexels
eSafety Australia’s latest report revealed a significant rise in online sexual extortion among young people. Between July and December 2025, there were 2,206 complaints of sexual extortion, with men aged 18 to 24 accounting for almost 800 reports.
Colombian national killed by ICE agent
Dozens of local residents and demonstrators gathered in the town of Biddeford following the incident / Wikimedia Commons
An ICE agent fatally shot a Colombian national in Maine on Monday during an operation to seize a person with an order of removal from the US. A vehicle was attempting to flee the scene when the ICE officer discharged his weapon and struck the driver.
LGBTQ+ arts venue faces eviction from Sydney church
Divine Playhouse received a $100 000 grant from Create NSW to host in the 150-year-old building / Pexels
The landlord of a deconsecrated church in Sydney has ordered LGBTQ+ group Heaps Gay to cease engaging in ‘"offensive trade"’ following public protests. The queer arts venue’s opening night last week was met with rallies from Christian men’s groups.
Report reveals Gen Z is most anxious about housing
The study tracked around 10, 000 children and their families since 2004, surveying every two years until adulthood / Pexels
The government-run Growing Up in Australia survey results released this week show that more young people are worried about buying a home than about climate change or employment. Housing affordability ranked significantly above other global economic problems, environmental and health concerns.
And now for some good news
Tiny Antarctic sea creature could help treat melanoma
Producing an effective anti-melanoma drug fit for humans will take time, but the knowledge gained has the potential to accelerate the process / Pexels
Researchers from the University of South Florida have found that bacterial toxins produced by miniscule marine organisms in Antarctica could become a treatment for skin cancer. After a six-week diving expedition to collect samples of ascidians, also known as sea squirts, the team effectively used the toxins to kill melanoma cells in mice.
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